New Director of Food Services named at ELPS

Date: 6/8/2009

By Courtney Llewellyn

Reminder Assistant Editor



EAST LONGMEADOW Joan Huhtanen, director of Food Services at East Longmeadow Public Schools, will be retiring at the end of this school year after nearly 30 years of service with the schools. At the May 26 meeting of the School Committee, Huhtanen reviewed her final bids and found out who would be replacing her as Director of Food Services.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Edward Costa noted that there were three finalists for the director's position, and that Damon Mayers, with 25 years of experience in the food service industry, was chosen as the best candidate.

"He has been here on several occasions with Ms. Huhtanen in order to make assessments before day one," Costa said.

He added that the schools and Mayers are currently working on contract negotiations. The first reading of the contract at last Tuesday's meeting stated that the director's contract would run from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2012.

"He's on the ball," Huhtanen told Reminder Publications. She added that she and Mayers will have two weeks of one on one time before she officially retires.

Huhtanen and the School Committee approved the ice cream, paper, milk and bread bids for the 2009-10 school year at the meeting as well.

Theresa Olajarz, the district's business manager, noted that two bids were received for the ice cream contract, one bid was received for paper products, two bids were received for milk and five bids were received for bread.

The School Committee unanimously approved of $26,773.15 for ice cream from New England Ice Cream; $29,642.17 for paper from the Mansfield Paper Co. Inc.; $63,031.20 for milk from Garelick Farms; and $24,347.35 for bread from New England Bakery Distributors of the Interstate Sales Corporation.

"The bids were very fair, and they're all good companies," Huhtanen said. "We've enjoyed working with them in the past."

No new companies entered the bidding process this year.